Rachel's Challenge: In Memory of Rachel Scott

- From the Concordia High School Panther Newspaper

Article by Heather Bergmann, Panther Staff Writer

On Tuesday, April 20, 1999, Columbine High School students and faculty were terrorized with what would be known as the deadliest school shooting in the history of the United States.

High School students Eric Harris and Dyland Klebold came to school armed and willing to kill. The result, 12 students and one teacher dead, and 24 others wounded.

Rachel Joy Scott was the first to be killed. Rachel Scott was an ambitious Columbine High School Junior with a bright future. She was very compassionate and expressed her love of God in her actions every day. Rachel was a daughter, sister, student and a dear friend.

Life as a teenager was no different for Rachel than for the rest of us. There were struggles along with joys. Her journals and writings were ways of expressing who she was and how she wished the world would be. Scott prayed that people would see God through the way she lived her life. Little did she know, her actions and writings would soon impact lives of students and adults around the country.

"You know I do." These four words were said to be the last that were spoken by this amazing person.

Rachel's life would not go without remembrance. Her mother, father, brother, and sister are now traveling the country using her words to help make a difference in schools and communities across the U.S. They are determined to make her dream become a reality. Their message is called Rachel's Challenge.

Rachel's Challenge is targeted towards high school students in hopes that nothing like Columbine will ever happen again. The family members use Rachel's six diaries and acts of sincerity and kindness to motivate teens to "start a chain reaction" in their schools and communities. However the journey does not stop there. Rachel Scott's family believes that parents and community members should also experience the story and reinforce the changes occurring in the youth.

On November 18, 2006, Concordia High School was fortunate enough to have 13 students, 4 teachers and 1 adult attend this life-changing experience in Salina at the Salina South High School. They came back with their spirits refreshed and their attitudes towards others change.

These students joined to form the Rachel's Challenge program. The goal of this small group was to not only bring Rachel's Challenge to our schools and community , but also to encourage a positive lifestyle and keep the challenge going in the halls of our schools and of many others.

Nicole, Gieber, Haley Walsh, and Ashlee Haist believe that, "Once all of our students see this program, we will all see a difference in our school."

The first of the two goals was accomplished by way of time spent by the students in the program and donations from various businesses and organizations. Rachel's sister is coming to tell Rachel's story to our school and community on December 07, 2006.

Now, it is our turn to make a difference by simply taking to heart the words of this amazing person.

These students attended Rachel's Challenge at Salina South High School in November. Frnt Row (l-r) Rebecca Charbonneau, Ashlee Haist, Karlie Hood, Mallory Gilliland, Nicole Gieber, Haley Walsh, Haley Bowers. Back row (l-r) Brandon Lynn, Christ Thomas, Bidal Guevara, Josh Huber. Not Pictured Andrew Licharowicz